The politics of surrender: treason, trials and recrimination in the 1370s

The politics of surrender: treason, trials and recrimination in the 1370s

The politics of surrender: treason, trials and recrimination in the 1370s

This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captains charged for the illegitimate surrender of French towns and fortresses under their custody in the 1370s. These prosecutions give a detailed insight in the laws of war (honour, oath and covenants) and their enforcement, while the relative scarcity of these prosecutions, the courts and legal procedures bring the political dimension of their punishment and pardon to the fore.

Abstract

This chapter examines the intertwining of politics and law in the prosecutions of English captains charged for the illegitimate surrender of French towns and fortresses under their custody in the 1370s. These prosecutions give a detailed insight in the laws of war (honour, oath and covenants) and their enforcement, while the relative scarcity of these prosecutions, the courts and legal procedures bring the political dimension of their punishment and pardon to the fore.